Jacob joites



(No Model.)

J. JONES. LETTEROPENER.

No. 299,398. Patented May 2'7, 1884.-

FM 0 Tu o m m. Q m m m h h L L K M. m fi B N M J N 9 m 5 u w 1 .R m n w m 6 M m x I 1 N -N 9 9 m i w m .mg m. g n K MT o M Q 9 wmwulw m m Washington. a. C.

Uivrren STATES Parent tries.

JACOB JONES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

LETTER-"OPENER.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,398, dated May 27, 1884.

Application filed March 18, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB J ONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved letter-openerthat is, a device to cut a sealed envelope to permit the letter to be withdrawn.

The device is here shown applied to a ruler.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a ruler partly in section, to show how the cutter-blade is attached. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the ruler with the cutter in position. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the ruler without the cutter, but showing the groove which it occupies. Fig. 4 is aview of the steel blade which comprises the cutter. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the ruler on the line or at the end where the envelope enters. Fig. 6 is a crosssection of the ruler on the line 3/ at the end where the opened envelopeis drawn from the ruler.

The letter A designates a steel blade, say, about one-sixteenth of an inch thick. A projecting cutter-prong, b, is formed on one edge of the blade-three, four, or five inches from one end. The object of locating the cutterprong at some distance from the end is to constitute that part c of the edge a seat or rest on which to slide the uncut edge of the e11- velope, as shown in Fig. 1. The cutter b, it will be seen, projects beyond this edge part.

Below the place where the cutter b is formed a slot or opening, d, is made in the blade. This opening facilitates the sharpening of the cutter.

A groove, 6, is made in the ruler F, of suitable size to receive the blade A, which extends lengthwise thereof. From end to end the blade should fit tightly in the groove and be secured in some suitable manner. In the present instance it is held by two pins, 9. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the sides of the groove project above the edge part c of the blade. Thereby, when the uncut edge of the envelope rests on the said part c, the projectthe end whereat the out envclopeis removed is broader, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, and when the edge of the envelope is cut one of the cut sides passes along at one side of the blade part h, and the other out side along the opposite side of the blade. It is therefore necessary to widen the opening of the groove, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, commencing at the point where the cutter-prong is located, and extending therefrom to the end. This widening of the groove where it is occupied by the broad part h of the blade forms two grooves, t' one each side of the said broad part-in each of which one of the cut sides of the envelope may pass.

The letter opener is operated as follows: The top or bottom edge of the envelope which is to be cut is placed in the groove and upon the seat part c of the blade-edge, as seen in Fig. 1. The envelope is then moved toward the cutter, the point of which enters the envelope between the back ]t' and the flap n, and as the envelope continues to move forward the cutter slits the edge of the envelope.

It will be seen that a ruler may be thus provided with this letter-opener without impairing in the slightest its usefulness as a ruler; and as both of the articlesa ruler and a letter-opener-are desk requisites, the two may thus be advantageously assembled to-v gether.

The essential features of the opener, it will be seen, are the groove formed in any suitable holder or support, and a blade having a cutter projecting on one edge and occupying the said groove.

The groove may be formed in rubber,wood, or metal, and may be arranged in the wood of a desk-top or in a special block; but in the present instance the parts are applied to a ruler and extend lengthwise thereof.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. Aletter-opener consisting of a holder or support for the blade, as described, having a groove formed in it, and a straight blade occupying the groove, extending lengthwise thereof and having a cutter-prong proj eoting In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein 10 from its exposed edge, asset forth. presence of two witnesses.

2. A letter-opener consisting of a holder or support for the blade, having a groove, and a JACOB JONES.

blade occupying the groove,extending1ength- Wise thereof, and having an edge, 0, on which Vitnesses:

to seat the edge of an envelope, and provided J NO. '1. 1VIADDOX, with a cutter-prong, b, projecting beyond said J N0. E. MORRIS. edge, as set forth. l 

